Welcome

Welcome to EPsy 3264: Basic and Applied Statistics.


Instructor

Andrew Zieffler (zief0002@umn.edu)
Office: Education Sciences Building 178
Office Hours: Tuesday 9:00 AM–10:00 AM; and by appointment


Classroom


Course Content and Syllabus

EPsy 3264 is designed to engage students using a modeling and simulation approach to inference. This course uses pedagogical principles that are founded in research, such as daily small group activities and discussion. Upon completion of this course, students should have an understanding of the foundational concepts of data, variation and inference, as well as an appreciation for the fundamental role that statistics plays in a host of disciplines, such as business, economics, law, and medicine.

  • The course syllabus is available here.


Course Materials


Getting Help

There are several things you can do to be successful in this course. First and foremost, complete all of the readings and come prepared to class. Complete all of the lab assignments. Ask questions. If you are experiencing problems, need help, or have any questions or other course-related concerns, do not hesitate to get in touch with the instructor or one of the Teaching Assisstants. Note: If you are unable to meet during the scheduled office hours, we can work with you to find a day/time that works in your schedule!


We have four Teaching Assisstants who you can help you with the course material:


Jesslyn Valerie (valer066@umn.edu)
Office: Education Sciences Building 196
Office Hours: Wednesday 1:00 PM–2:00 PM; and by appointment


Sam Ihlenfeldt (ihlen010@umn.edu)
Office: Education Sciences Building 193
Office Hours: Wednesday 11:30 AM PM–12:30 PM; and by appointment


Johanna Schultz (schu4338@umn.edu)
Office: Education Sciences Building 192
Office Hours: Monday 10:00 PM–11:00 AM; and by appointment


Manos Hatzimalonas (manos@philotimo.org)
Office: Education Sciences Building 192
Office Hours: Thursday 1:30 PM–3:30 PM; and by appointment

Schedule

Below is the tenative schedule for the class. The dates are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. Readings should be completed prior to class. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period that they are due


Calendar


Unit 0: Introduction
  Sept. 04 Introduction to EPsy 3264
Unit 1: Modeling and Simulation
  Sept. 09 Reading: Introduction
Reading: Modeling & Simulation
Spotify Playlists
  Sept. 11 Reading: Generating Data From Models
Assignment #1 Due (Learning TinkerPlots)
Generating Random Data—Cat Factory
  Sept. 16 Reading: Monte Carlo Simulation
Introduction to Monte Carlo Simulation
  Sept. 18 Assignment #2 Due (Free Throws)
Automating the Simulation Process
  Sept. 23 Group Quiz #1
Unit 2: Modeling Sampling Variation
  Sept. 25 Reading: Modeling Sampling Variation
Monday Breakups
  Sept. 30 Features of Distributions
  Sept. 25 Reading: Describing Distributions
Assignment #3 Due (Distracted Driving)
Helper or Hinderer
  Oct. 07 Comparing Hand Spans
  Oct. 09 Assignment #4 Due (College Debt)
Racial Disparities in Police Stops
  Oct. 14 Group Quiz #2
Unit 3: Experimental Variation and the Randomization Test
  Oct. 16 Reading: Experimental Variation and the Randomization Test
Memorization
  Oct. 21 Memorization using TinkerPlots
  Oct. 23 Sleep Deprivation
  Oct. 28 Reading: Quantifying Results: p-Value
Contagious Yawns
  Oct. 30 Reading: Internal Validity Evidence and Random Assignment
Assignment #5 Due (Dolphin Therapy)
Strength Shoe
  Nov. 04 Group Quiz #3
Unit 4: Sampling Variation and the Bootstrap Test
  Nov. 06 Reading: Sampling Variation and the Bootstrap Test
Speed Skating
  Nov. 11 Reading: External Validity Evidence and Random Sampling
Gettysburg Address
  Nov. 13 Reading: Validity Evidence and Inferences
Reading: Observational Studies and the Bootstrap Test
Murderous Nurse
  Nov. 18 Assignment #6 Due (Lyric Readability)
Movie Sequels
  Nov. 20 Group Quiz #4
Unit 5: Estimating Uncertainty
  Nov. 25 Reading: Estimating Uncertainty
Kissing the ‘Right’ Way
  Nov. 27 Cuddling Preferences
  Dec. 02 Reading: Uncertainty and Bias
Assignment #7 Due (College Student Health Survey)
Minnesota College Debt
  Dec. 04 Comparing Cuddling Preferences
  Dec. 09 Group Quiz #5
  Dec. 11 Assignment #8 Due (Dolphins and Pigs)
TBA

Assignments

Below are the due dates for the assignments, as well as links to the PDF files for each assignment. The due dates may change at the instructor’s discretion. Any revised due dates will be announced in class and posted to the website.


Assignment Due Date PDF
Assignment #1: Learning TinkerPlots Sept. 11
Assignment #2: Free Throws Sept. 18
Assignment #3: Distracted Driving Oct. 2
Assignment #4: College Debt Oct. 9
Assignment #5: Dolphin Therapy Oct.30
Assignment #6: Lyric Readability Nov. 18
Assignment #7: College Student Health Survey Dec. 2
Assignment #8: Dolphins and Pigs Dec. 11